How to Register Your Car in Texas: The Costs & Process

Wondering how to register a car in Texas? Whether you’re a new or current resident, you’ll need to register your car in order to legally drive it. In this blog post, we’ll break down how to register your car in the Lone Star State to make the process as easy as possible so you can be road-ready in no time. If you’re in the market for a new car, we can help. We can also add custom car or truck accessories to your vehicle, including window tints, lift kits, and custom tires. We’re located in Brownsville and serve the entire state, including McAllen, Weslaco, Harlingen, Austin, and Dallas!

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How to Register a Car in Texas

Learning how to register a car in Texas is simple. You’ll need to take a few essential steps to make sure your car is road-legal, including getting an emissions test (in certain counties), gathering the right documents, and visiting your local county tax collector’s office. Once completed, you’ll receive a registration sticker to display on your windshield.  

How to Register a New Car In Texas

When registering a new car in Texas, the process can vary depending on where you purchase it. If you buy your vehicle from a dealership like Tipton Ford in Brownsville, the good news is that they typically handle the registration for you. Dealerships are equipped to submit the necessary paperwork, collect fees, and ensure that your car is properly titled and registered with the state. This convenient service means that you can drive it off the lot without making a separate trip to the county tax collector’s office to register your new car. 

If, on the other hand, you purchase from a private seller, you’ll need to handle the registration process yourself by filling out the registration form and going to your local tax collector’s office to submit all the proper documentation. Once finished, the tax collector’s office will give you your Texas license plate and registration sticker. 

Where to Register Your Car

In Texas, vehicle registrations are handled through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, or TxDMV. If you’re renewing your vehicle’s registration, you can go online to the TxDMV website or submit your registration by mail in addition to going in person. 

If this is your first time registering this car, you’ll need to go to your local tax collector’s office. There, you can submit your paperwork and pay the registration fees. They will give you a license plate and registration sticker once the process is complete. 

How to Register an Out-of-State Car in Texas

When moving to Texas, you have 30 days from the start of your residency to register your out-of-state vehicle. Luckily, the process is easy. Here’s how to register a car in Texas when moving from out of state:

1. Insure your car. In Texas, you must have a minimum coverage of $30,000 per injured person, up to $60,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. 
2. Obtain an emissions inspection (if required). There are 17 counties in Texas that require smog testing. 
3. Gather the documents you need, including proof of ownership (the title or out-of-state registration), proof of insurance, emissions report, and your ID.
4. Visit your local tax collector’s office to complete the registration and pay the fees. 

Once these steps are complete, you’ll receive your new Texas license plates and a registration sticker.  

What You’ll Need to Register

In order to register your car in Texas, you’ll need to gather some documents to prove ownership and insurance coverage. Here’s what you’ll need to register your car in Texas:

• Emissions report (if required): In Texas, 17 counties require emissions inspections, including Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, El Paso, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Johnson, Kaufman, Montgomery, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Travis, and Williamson counties. 
• Proof of insurance: Bring proof of insurance with minimum liability coverage. Make sure your policy meets Texas state requirements. 
• Proof of ownership: This can include the title or out-of-state registration, if applicable. 
• Odometer disclosure statement (required on any vehicle model year 2011 and newer) and Bill of Sale. 
• Registration Form: Fill out the Application for Texas Title and/or Registration (From 130-U). 
• Your ID: Bring your driver’s license or other ID. 
• VIN: Bring your vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, with you. 

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How Much It Costs

The cost of registering a car in Texas can vary based on a number of factors, including the type of vehicle, the county you live in, and whether you’re registering a new or out-of-state car. Here’s a breakdown of typical costs:

• Base registration fee: The base registration fee depends on the type of vehicle you’re registering. For example, the base fee for passenger vehicles is $51.75 while the base fee for pickup trucks between 6,001 and 10,000 pounds is $55. 
• Local fee: This depends on the county you live in and can range from $0 to $31.50. 
• Inspection fee: Starting in 2025, a fee of $7.50 is required in place of an annual safety inspection. 
• Electric vehicle fee (if required): Fully electric vehicles that are under 10,000 pounds pay a $200 fee every year. 
• Processing and handling fee: A fee of $4.75 covers the costs of processing vehicle registration. 
• Title fee: If you’re registering a new or out-of-state vehicle, you’ll have to pay a title transfer fee of $33.

How Often You Register Your Car

In Texas, you’re required to register your car annually. Your vehicle’s registration expiration date is typically tied to the month you originally registered it. For example, if you first registered your car in February, the registration would expire at the end of the month of February every year. 

You can renew your registration up to 90 days before it expires. You also have a 5-business-day grace period after expiration to complete the renewal without penalties. However, you may still get a ticket for driving with an expired registration during this time. 

You can renew your vehicle’s registration online, by mail, or in person at your local county tax collector’s office. 

Penalties for Driving an Unregistered Vehicle

Driving an unregistered vehicle is never a good idea. Police are able to scan your license from afar and check the status of your registration. If you’re caught, you may receive a number of penalties, depending on how long the registration has been expired. Here’s a breakdown of the penalties: 

• Fines: After the 5-day grace period, you could face a fine of up to $200 if you’re caught driving an unregistered vehicle.
• License suspension: If you’ve been driving an unregistered vehicle for a while, you may have your driver’s license suspended. 
• Car impounded: Police may impound your car until you renew your car’s registration. 
• Points: Another penalty for driving an unregistered car is points on your driving record. This can affect your insurance rates and lead to having your license suspended if you obtain too many points.

If you receive a ticket for expired registration but renew it within 20 working days, or before your court date, you might be able to have the ticket dismissed (though you’ll need to pay an administrative fee). The best way to avoid these penalties is to stay up-to-date on your vehicle’s registration. 

How to Register a Car in Texas Conclusion

Registering your car is usually a straightforward process. Once you’ve filled out the registration form, submitted the proper documents, and paid the registration fee, you’ll be able to drive your car on Texas roads. 

If you have any questions about how to register a car in Texas or how a dealership can help, contact Tipton Ford in Brownsville. We can also help you shop for your next ride. With our large inventory of new and used vehicles, we’re sure to have the right car for you. 

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